Life Story / Obituary

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Barbara Bennema Dawdy of Freedom Village in Holland went to be with her savior Thursday, July 7 after succumbing to complications of Alzheimer’s.

Barbara was born June 30, 1934 in DeMotte IN. She graduated from Hope College BS (56/58) and Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing RN (57). Barbara was married to the late Arthur Dawdy July 7, 1958 and lived and worked as Registered Nurse in Chicago, IL. She later moved with Arthur and her two sons Paul Arthur and Evan Richard to Sunnyvale/San Jose, CA where she continued to work at El Camino Hospital and Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. In 1978 Barbara graduated from San Jose State University with a BSN and began a career as an Enterostomal Therapist working for Alexian Brothers Home Health Care. She continued this work as well as parish nursing at Westminster Presbyterian Church until her retirement in 2011.

Barbara was born again in the blood of Christ and was passionate about witnessing and making a difference in the lives she touched. Most recently she attended Beachwood Church in Holland, MI. She was especially blessed by the Sam family, Yin and her daughters Eng Funk (Jeffery and Victoria, Mackenzie, Michael), Phin Sam (Melissa, Michelle, Catherine), Sopheap Hettinga (Aaron and Alissa, Natalie, Miles).

Barbara will continue to be honored by her surviving family Paul of San Jose, CA, Evan (Janna) of Grand Rapids, MI, sister Sandy Grew (William), several nieces and nephews, and the Sam family. She was preceded in death by her mother and father Gerrit and Leona Kooy Bennema, husband Arthur, and her sister Mary Walstra (William).